Devon Sproule (born 1982, in Kingston, Ontario) is a musician currently based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005.

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History

Born to hippie parents on a commune named Dandelion in Kingston, Ontario, Sproule claims dual citizenship with both Canada and the United States. She spent her childhood on the , 100-member Twin Oaks Community ^[1] founded in 1967 as an intentional community and ecovillage in Louisa County, Virginia. Asked about how the experience has affected her musical career, she said:

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After moving between private, public and home schooling, she eventually left high school, recorded her first record, and began touring nationally -- all before the age of eighteen. ^[3]

She is married to musician Paul Curreri and currently resides with him in Charlottesville, Virginia. They often perform together locally, but also on tours across the United States and United Kingdom. They are both favorites at the Gravity Lounge in their hometown.

Recordings

She released her first album when she was 16. Her second album, Long Sleeve Story was released in 2001 with praise from The Village Voice . Upstate Songs , released in 2003, made it in Rolling Stone's Critics Top Albums of the year, followed by Keep Your Silver Shined in March 2007. Her latest album, "Don't Hurry for Heaven" was released in April 2009.

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Style and sound

Sproule's music shares elements of folk, country, and jazz, delivered in an affecting, personal style.

"Vintage country...with jazzy sophistication...beautifully sparse arrangements and melodies that surprise the ear when you first hear them, but which then get under your skin much more than anything more obvious would."

—BBC

"Keep Your Silver Shined rings with a sweet, heartbreaking majesty; these songs are beautiful, timeless and transporting."

—Davy Rothbart, This American Life

Discography

• Long Sleeve Story (2001) – ASIN: B00005QY5Z
• Upstate Songs (2003) – ASIN: B000CAGHY6
• Keep Your Silver Shined (2007) – ASIN: B000N69OV2
• Don't Hurry for Heaven (2009)

Distinctions and awards

• She was one of six 2008 winning songwriters picked from 32 finalists who performed during the 2008 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts May 24 & 25.
• She was nominated in the Emerging Artist category of the third annual Folk Alliance awards show broadcast February 20, 2008 from Memphis, Tennessee (simulcast on XM). ^[5]
• Best Solo Music Act "Sweet, breathy vocals; a fetching, gentle stage presence; local roots with a capital 'L'; talent that just won't quit. You love Belmont-based songstress Devon Sproule the best, but with the success of her second record, Keep Your Silver Shined (she calls it her "getting married" album), she sure does travel a lot, so keep your calendars shined for her next local gig." ^[6] -- Best of C-Ville 2007.
• She taught songwriting at the Third Annual NewSong Academy in August 2007 Shepherdstown, WV. ^[7]
• Upstate Songs () was included in Rolling Stone's Critics Top Albums of 2003. Julie Gerstein called the record, "perhaps the sweetest and most honest folk-pop album recorded this year," and added, "Sproule's vocal and lyrical beauty is unmatched." ^[8]
• Her soon-to-be husband, singer-songwriter Paul Curreri dedicated his 2003 Songs for Devon Sproule CD ( / — ASIN: B0015HQGLE) to her.

Articles, reviews, interviews

• Monday, 3 March 2008 on Underwurld Music.
• From strumming in a hippy commune to swinging with 1940s jazz, Devon Sproule has done it all - and she's only 25." interview with Nige Tassell, August 24, 2007, in The Guardian .
• by David Dye, July 24, 2007 World Cafe , NPR.
• by David Dye, June 4, 2007 World Cafe , NPR.
• in December 2007 Acoustic Guitar.
• C-Ville Weekly .
• by Laura Cerand, appearing April 27, 2006 in ART section Lux Lotus .
• by Bret Holmes Lucid Arts and Culture.

References

1. "An Interview with Devon Sproule" by Bret Holmes Lucid Arts and Culture.
2. "The Lux Lotus Interview: Devon Sproule" by Laura Cerand, appearing April 27, 2006 in ART section ''Lux Lotus''.
3. Official Website biography
4. "The Lux Lotus Interview: Devon Sproule" by Laura Cerand, appearing April 27, 2006 in ART section ''Lux Lotus''.
5. "Ellen Jewell, Uncle Earl highlight Folk Alliance award nominees" ''News You Should Note'' posted February 4, 2008 No Depression.
6. "Best of C-Ville" 2007 ''C-Ville Weekly''.
7. Third Annual NewSong Academy: Thur Aug 9 – Sat Aug 11 • 2007 // Shepherdstown, WV NewSong Festival.
8. "Our Critics Top Albums of 2003: Strokes, Shins and a whole lot of OutKast" posted Dec 31, 2003 ''Rolling Stone Magazine''.